Monday, June 9, 2014

Placing A Veil

One of the most beautiful customs of a traditional Ashkenazi wedding is the ceremony known as the Badeken. The term Badeken is Yiddish for covering, as this is the moment when the bride is veiled in a brief but poignant ceremony that takes place shortly before the chuppah.
The Badeken begins when the groom is escorted by his father and father-in-law, the rabbi and any other chosen dignitaries to the bride, who often sits upon a regal chair. Friends and family form a secondary escort, and the entire procession is accompanied by music.
When the procession reaches the bride, she is given a blessing by each father (and anyone else specified for